Device for closing opening in a cigarette pack



E. J. KILGORE Sept. 27, 1955 DEVICE FOR CLOSING OPENING IN A CIGARETTE PACK Filed Dec. 8', 1952 /l l um III l"lll IHIIMIIHF Illum KIO United States Patent O DEVICE FOR CLSllNG OPENING IN A CIGARETTE PACK Earl Junior Kilgore, Kenvir, Ky.

Application December 8, 1952, Serial No. 324,644

1 Claim. (Cl. 20G- 41) The present invention relates to a device for closing an opening made in the top of a package of cigarettes.

The present method in use today, is to make a partial opening in the top of a package of cigarettes at one corner. After two or three cigarettes have been removed, the remaining cigarettes in the package become loose, fall to the opening in the pack and fall out into pockets, pocketbooks and the like. The cigarettes also dry out due to the opening and the looseness in the pack.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that may be inserted into an opening in a pack of cigarettes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device made from a single strip of material.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of resilient means for closing an opening in a package of cigarettes.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means for locking the resilient means to permit removal of cigarettes through an opening.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a device that will keep the cigarettes in a pack in a semi-sealed position, and keep them clean and sanitary, thus preventing dust and grit contacting the ends, and further preventing particles of tobacco from getting into pockets, pocketbooks and the like.

The novel structural features of my device, its application, and the many advantages therein will be more readily understood by persons familiar with the art, by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated a practical and workable embodiment of the invention, and I would have it understood that changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit or scope of the claim hereto appended.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a strip of material and showing a locking means stamped therefrom, the dotted lines indicating points where the strip is bent to form the device.

Figure 2 is an edge view of Figure 1 showing the locking means in elevation.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device after it is formed.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device and showing the locking or resilient arm in unlocked position.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View similar to Figure 4 and showing the locking or resilient arm in locked position.

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of a package of cigarettes showing the device in position therein, a portion of the view being broken away and in section.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 and showing the locking arm in locked position, and

Figure 8 is a top plan view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6, parts being shown in section and broken lines.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 represents the device in its unformed and formed shape, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 11 represents a strip 2,718,964 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 of resilient metal material, having a struck out or stamped out catch 12, the catch having substantially reversed curves 13 and 14.

Arms 15 and 16 are formed by bending the strip on the dotted line 17, and arm 18 is formed by bending along dotted line 19. Arm 16 is slightly longer than arm 15, and arm 18 is slightly longer than arm 16, and it is to be noted that arm 18 is of a slightly curved configuration for a purpose to be later described. As shown in Figure 4, the arm when in unlocked position is normally disposed away from arm 16.

In Figure 6 the device 10 is shown applied to a pack of cigarettes 2t), arm 15 impinging the inner wall 21 of the wrapper 22, the resilient arm 18 being shown in unlocked position, the upper portion of arm 1S impinging the torn edge 23 closing the opening 24 thus sealing the cigarettes 25 in the pack 20.

ln Figure 7 the resilient arm 18 is shown in locked position, the curved portion 13 of the catch engaging the curved end 26 of arms 15 and 16. In locked position, the opening 24 is exposed, thus permitting removal of one or more cigarettes 25. By providing the arm 18 of curved configuration, and due to its resiliency, the arm will at all times when in unlocked position cover the opening 24. By providing a space 27 between arms 15 and 16 a slight resilient pressure is imparted to arms 15 and 16 when the device is in unlocked position which assists arm 15 in impinging the wall 21 of the wrapper.

In using the device, one end of a package of cigarettes is torn as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 forming an opening 24. After the irst two cigarettes are removed from the pack the device 10 is inserted into the pack as shown, the arm 13 closing the opening in unlocked position, thus preventing the cigarettes from casual removal from the pack. When the arm is pulled back and locked as shown in Figure 7, the opening 24 is exposed and removal of a cigarette from the pack is made.

From the above description it can be seen that I have provided a device that will retain the cigarettes in a package so long as the closure arm is unlocked and prevent them from casual displacement from the pack, it can be further seen that by the provision of a device having its transverse width substantially that of the pack of cigarettes particles of tobacco are prevented from falling out of the pack into pockets, pocketbooks and the like.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a cigarette package, a device for closing an opening in the top wall of said package adjacent an end wall, said device comprising a single strip of material substantially the width of said package bent into a Z-shaped conguration, one arm of the Z being an end wall engaging portion, an intermediate arm of substantially the same length as said one arm joined to said one arm at its upper edge by a bight and being substantially parallel thereto, and a resilient arm of greater length than either of the other two arms joined to said intermediate arrn at it lower end and extending vertically outwardly of the opening above said package, the upper end of said resilient arm being normally biased away from said intermediate arm so as to engage the torn edge of the package opening on its side remote from said end wall when in operative position, said resilient arm having latch means struck out above and extending towards the shorter arms, said latch means engaging over the bight portion formed by the joined edges of the shorter arms when maintaining the device in an inoperative position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,845 Kerr Oct. 19, 1897 2,327,120 McCoon Aug. 17, 1943 2,510,630 Goldsworthy June 6, 1950 

